Shanaze Reade

Career highlights:

Has won the world BMX title four times as well as two team sprints in the World Championships. The trophy cabinet also holds an array of junior titles, a European Championship and the national series - for men. In 2011, she added the Olympic test event to her World gold and became the first ever World BMX TT champion.

RANDOM FACT

Once got told off by her nan after coming home from boxing covered in blood. She had punched a lad.

How it all began:

Bought her first BMX bike for £1 when she was 10 and fell in love with it growing up on a council estate in Crewe. An energeticchild, she also did athletics, running and boxing. "She was very hyperactive," her grandfather said.

RANDOM FACT

Has her own video show online called the Shanaze Reade Series. Each episode follows her everyday life, from media work to training and BMX races.

Biggest Disappointment:

Crashed out of the Beijing 2008 final after an ambitious attempt to overtake leader Ann-Caroline Chausson in the last bend. Was widely expect to win, but briefly lost her love for the sport after the fall.

RANDOM FACT

Shanaze was born to a Jamaican father and an Irish mother.

Rivals:

After two consecutive world titles most expected her to take gold in Beijing four years ago - but a last-bend fall left her trailing. She will have unfinished business but faces strong challengers in Mariana Pajon and Magalie Pottier..